History-sheeter ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh shot dead by police near Madhavaram in Chennai

History-sheeter 'Thoppai' Ganesh shot dead by police in Chennai after attacking officers during attempted escape.

Ganesh alias ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh, 38, a history-sheeter, was shot dead by the police near Madhavaram in the early hours of Monday when he reportedly attempted to escape after attacking the police team that had him surrounded.

He is said to have been involved in at least 30 criminal cases, including five murders and a dacoity case reported in Puzhal recently. He also had murder, robbery, attempt to murder, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and Arms Act cases against him, according to the police. Ganesh, also known as Dilli Ganesh, was a resident of BV Colony, Vyasarpadi. He was an A+ category history-sheeter at the MKB Nagar police station.

History-sheeter ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In the early hours of January 30, six unidentified men, wearing masks and caps and armed with knives, forcibly entered the house of Vijayakumar, a businessman and resident of Mahaveer Garden Main Road at East Kavangarai in Puzhal when his wife Vasantha was about to leave for a morning walk. The gang threatened Vasantha, Vijayakumar, their two daughters, and Vijayakumar’s mother at knifepoint, tied them up with ropes, assaulted them, and issued death threats. The robbers allegedly then fled with ₹25 lakh in cash kept in the house, and 15 sovereigns of gold jewellery, including diamond-studded gold earrings, gold chains, bangles, bracelets, and rings worn by Vasantha and her family members. The suspects fled the spot in a car. In connection with the incident, the Puzhal police had arrested five suspects, including an advocate.

On Monday, the police said that during the course of investigation, the involvement of 10 persons was revealed. Among them, five, including an advocate, were arrested. The remaining five, including Ganesh, were on the run. A special team was formed under Inspector K. Boopathi Raja of the Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar police station to arrest the suspects who were on the run. The police said that on Sunday, they received information that Ganesh was hiding in Manchampakkam area in the Madhavaram police station limits. Early on Monday, the police team found him hiding in a dilapidated building abutting 200 Feet Road from the Madhavaram roundtana, and tried to arrest him.

Upon seeing the police, Ganesh tried to escape, and in spite of oral warnings from Mr. Boopathi Raja, he assaulted Sub-inspector (SI) Subramani and head constable Dinesh Kumar with an aruval (sickle), injuring them both. When Ganesh tried to assault them again, Mr. Boopathi Raja fired at Ganesh, but he continued moving towards the police personnel. The police claimed that the Inspector fired the second shot at Ganesh in self-defence. The accused fell after the second shot hit him. Ganesh and the injured police personnel were taken to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital for treatment. While Ganesh was declared dead at the hospital, the two policemen are under treatment.